Written Answers Tuesday 24 March 2009

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that its conclusion in its report Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action , that alcohol is a major cause of violence may undermine the work of the violence against women sector, which has consistently argued that alcohol abuse is not a cause of domestic abuse and other gender-based violence.

Shona Robison: The alcohol framework for action does not undermine the work of the violence against women sector. The framework discusses the link between alcohol and violence, but does not specifically refer to domestic abuse. The Scottish Government is clear that the relationship between alcohol and crime, particularly violent crime and antisocial behaviour, is strong. Homicide (the most serious violent crime) statistics for 2007-08, published in December 2008, show that 45% of the 148 persons accused in homicide cases were reported to have been drunk or on drugs at the time of the incident.

  In relation to domestic abuse, The Scottish Government recognises that alcohol misuse can exacerbate the problem but is not an underlying cause. However, it is acknowledged that alcohol can be a contributing factor or used as an excuse by perpetrators of the crime. The relationship between alcohol and domestic abuse is complex, but where domestic abuse exists, alcohol is often present. A 2003 Home Office study into domestic violence found that in 62% of cases alcohol was present, while almost half (48%) convicted for domestic violence were alcohol dependent. It concluded that alcohol may be a distinguishing factor in domestic violence offenders.

Ambulance Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for transport provision by ambulance to and from hospital.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19699 on 21 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Care Commission

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes were issued with warnings by the Care Commission in 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The Care Commission has a range of enforcement powers which it can use if a care service does not meet the requirements set out in legislation and the National Care Standards. These include making recommendations, placing requirements on the service, and issuing improvement notices. Ultimately, the commission can cancel a service’s registration, which means it can no longer operate.

  The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of recommendations, requirements and improvement notices issued by the Care Commission. That is an operational matter for the commission.

  You can contact the commission’s chief executive for information at the following address:

  Ms Jacquie Roberts Chief Executive Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY

  E: Jacquie.roberts@care commission.com T: 01382 207100.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shoplifters received direct measures in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) month and (b) local authority.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the number of charges of theft by shoplifting, where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure from April 2006.

  The figures include only those direct measures that were affected by the provisions in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) database does not contain information to identify local authority areas and individual jurisdictions do not always match such areas. As a result, the information has been split by COPFS offices.

  Shoplifting Charges: Direct Measure Issued in 2006-071, 2

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007


Aberdeen
6
10
8
11
4
5
10
16
14
18
9
15


Airdrie
14
5
8
2
0
4
2
12
18
18
13
8


Alloa
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
7
12
4
4
4


Arbroath
8
4
3
6
4
3
2
1
2
0
1
4


Ayr
3
12
2
5
8
2
6
7
5
9
2
4


Banff
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0


Campbeltown
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
1


Cupar
0
1
1
0
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
0


Dingwall
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1


Dumbarton
3
15
11
15
8
9
10
9
15
8
14
15


Dumfries
1
4
3
1
0
3
1
5
4
2
3
6


Dundee
8
6
12
5
17
7
15
18
7
23
12
26


Dunfermline
5
1
5
3
1
0
2
2
1
3
0
0


Dunoon
4
0
1
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0


Duns
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Edinburgh
15
19
24
18
18
17
24
22
23
28
17
26


Elgin
5
2
1
3
6
2
3
3
6
1
5
5


Falkirk
2
3
2
0
0
3
5
1
1
6
1
2


Forfar
10
8
4
2
5
1
1
2
1
1
0
3


Fort William
1
3
4
2
0
1
2
4
0
1
1
2


Glasgow
89
85
64
73
67
71
65
87
47
82
59
62


Greenock
2
4
5
4
0
0
1
2
6
4
2
5


Haddington
0
0
1
0
1
1
3
2
1
0
0
0


Hamilton
18
18
16
17
14
7
13
11
12
32
21
18


Inverness
2
3
6
2
14
3
9
7
0
8
5
7


Jedburgh
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
0


Kilmarnock
4
8
13
3
6
11
5
13
5
7
6
4


Kirkcaldy
12
9
7
2
3
3
2
6
6
9
4
7


Kirkcudbright
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Kirkwall
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1


Lanark
1
2
2
0
0
0
5
1
2
2
2
0


Lerwick
0
3
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0


Linlithgow
3
0
2
3
3
3
0
1
12
0
3
5


Oban
0
1
0
2
0
4
4
2
7
0
1
0


Paisley
6
10
6
15
4
15
7
40
4
23
13
7


Peebles
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth
5
4
9
4
7
5
15
1
3
11
7
2


Peterhead
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0


Rothesay
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0


Selkirk
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0


Stirling
3
2
4
2
3
2
3
0
5
2
0
0


Stonehaven
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Stornoway
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1


Stranraer
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0


Tain
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1


Wick
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0


National Total
242
255
234
205
197
188
227
285
223
311
208
242



  Shoplifting Charges: Direct Measure Issued in 2007-081,2

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008


Aberdeen
13
22
10
11
23
18
4
16
10
27
11
17


Airdrie
5
7
6
6
6
6
15
11
11
6
5
11


Alloa
5
7
2
13
15
2
6
14
4
4
2
11


Arbroath
5
2
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
7
1
0


Ayr
5
1
11
3
4
3
6
2
4
3
2
12


Banff
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0


Campbeltown
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Cupar
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1


Dingwall
1
1
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
1
0
0


Dumbarton
9
5
12
2
18
8
15
10
7
23
6
4


Dumfries
1
0
0
1
4
0
4
0
0
4
1
0


Dundee
13
24
22
29
27
11
14
16
17
35
11
31


Dunfermline
4
2
1
3
5
1
1
3
2
4
0
5


Dunoon
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0


Duns
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2


Edinburgh
19
32
44
23
34
26
17
41
29
32
45
81


Elgin
5
5
0
5
2
4
7
7
1
5
1
3


Falkirk
1
1
3
2
3
2
0
1
3
3
0
5


Forfar
0
3
0
1
1
4
5
1
0
0
1
0


Fort William
1
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0


Glasgow
73
64
63
56
66
67
74
67
102
95
54
74


Greenock
2
4
1
4
1
5
3
10
3
8
0
4


Haddington
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
2
0
5


Hamilton
10
26
12
10
17
19
19
23
16
14
11
8


Inverness
5
3
7
2
5
4
9
8
3
4
3
12


Jedburgh
0
1
0
0
0
3
2
0
1
0
0
0


Kilmarnock
8
9
10
8
9
11
8
18
26
4
6
15


Kirkcaldy
5
3
5
2
2
3
11
6
8
3
6
7


Kirkcudbright
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0


Kirkwall
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Lanark
1
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
1
1


Lerwick
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
3


Linlithgow
5
4
4
3
4
4
8
6
1
2
2
5


Oban
0
2
5
1
0
0
2
4
6
2
3
1


Paisley
5
20
11
12
11
13
13
13
24
18
8
19


Peebles
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth
4
3
2
4
5
2
4
0
1
3
4
7


Peterhead
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1


Rothesay
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Selkirk
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2


Stirling
3
7
23
6
6
3
2
0
1
2
0
5


Stonehaven
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1


Stornoway
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0


Stranraer
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1


Tain
0
5
1
2
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
0


Wick
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0


National Total
210
271
262
214
276
226
256
285
281
325
186
354



  Shoplifting Charges: Direct Measure Issued in 2008-091,2

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009


Aberdeen
12
40
44
28
18
24
17
21
15
33
14


Airdrie
8
13
11
17
11
20
15
17
13
15
16


Alloa
6
7
6
9
4
10
8
4
4
6
5


Arbroath
3
4
2
3
0
4
3
4
1
2
8


Ayr
11
9
9
4
11
7
12
11
13
6
9


Banff
0
0
4
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
0


Campbeltown
3
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
0


Cupar
3
4
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
2


Dingwall
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
3
1


Dumbarton
11
15
7
2
13
9
21
11
10
29
25


Dumfries
3
8
8
2
2
0
2
5
6
4
4


Dundee
38
49
35
28
16
17
38
25
33
22
26


Dunfermline
6
8
12
5
4
2
2
2
15
5
10


Dunoon
0
1
1
0
2
1
2
1
2
0
1


Duns
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1


Edinburgh
99
105
105
47
42
38
50
66
51
42
17


Elgin
1
7
3
8
3
3
3
4
4
11
2


Falkirk
8
4
7
10
2
3
7
4
7
4
7


Forfar
12
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
1


Fort William
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
1
1
0
1


Glasgow
99
197
153
51
60
92
77
113
95
132
56


Greenock
12
5
7
6
5
13
11
2
10
5
5


Haddington
0
0
2
5
0
0
1
3
4
1
0


Hamilton
12
35
28
23
39
24
17
30
8
12
19


Inverness
9
11
6
9
6
5
5
8
8
7
8


Jedburgh
3
0
0
3
0
3
2
0
1
1
2


Kilmarnock
21
36
10
12
15
18
29
27
23
16
15


Kirkcaldy
16
20
22
22
10
5
4
6
35
30
14


Kirkcudbright
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0


Kirkwall
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0


Lanark
3
1
1
2
3
1
0
1
5
2
7


Lerwick
2
5
3
1
4
2
0
0
0
1
1


Linlithgow
13
7
13
9
12
6
10
4
11
8
8


Oban
0
3
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2


Paisley
30
17
11
17
11
15
13
23
32
19
16


Peebles
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth
12
7
4
4
2
6
8
9
5
9
8


Peterhead
0
0
0
3
10
1
0
1
2
2
3


Rothesay
0
1
1
1
0
0
2
0
1
0
1


Selkirk
3
2
2
2
4
0
1
0
1
1
1


Stirling
7
6
4
13
3
7
2
4
0
1
3


Stonehaven
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0


Stornoway
2
2
1
1
4
2
2
1
0
0
3


Stranraer
0
0
0
4
0
0
2
2
0
2
0


Tain
0
0
0
2
0
2
1
1
1
2
0


Wick
3
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0


National Total
473
634
531
359
323
349
372
417
423
440
322



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for vandalism in each month since August 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the number of charges under Section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (wilfully or recklessly destroy or damage property), where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure from September 2008 to February 2009.

  The figures include only those direct measures that were affected by the provisions in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) database does not contain information to identify local authority areas and individual jurisdictions do not always match such areas. As a result, the information has been split by Procurator Fiscal offices.

  Charges: Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52(1) - Direct Measures Issued1,2

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 
2009


Aberdeen
7
15
9
8
9
14


Airdrie
4
7
6
4
3
8


Alloa
4
3
1
4
3
2


Arbroath
5
6
3
5
1
11


Ayr
12
10
14
4
7
6


Banff
0
0
0
0
1
0


Campbeltown
0
2
0
1
2
0


Cupar
7
2
5
0
1
8


Dingwall
3
1
3
1
2
3


Dumbarton
3
1
2
1
3
5


Dumfries
2
1
2
1
2
1


Dundee
12
9
3
4
9
0


Dunfermline
13
7
11
10
12
15


Dunoon
1
0
0
0
0
0


Duns
2
3
4
2
1
1


Edinburgh
12
17
7
16
8
19


Elgin
16
9
4
6
5
7


Falkirk
5
1
13
1
4
12


Forfar
5
4
4
1
0
4


Fort William
8
2
1
1
0
0


Glasgow
34
22
24
16
32
26


Greenock
8
0
1
0
2
2


Haddington
0
0
0
0
1
0


Hamilton
20
7
10
2
9
4


Inverness
3
7
4
3
6
3


Jedburgh
13
2
4
1
7
3


Kilmarnock
4
9
11
9
9
8


Kirkcaldy
9
13
20
12
14
15


Kirkcudbright
0
0
3
0
0
1


Kirkwall
4
8
2
2
1
1


Lanark
2
5
1
0
4
0


Lerwick
2
1
0
0
0
5


Linlithgow
4
5
4
3
6
3


Lochmaddy
0
1
1
0
0
0


Oban
0
4
0
0
0
2


Paisley
17
12
7
6
8
7


Peebles
0
1
0
0
0
1


Perth
8
5
6
3
2
9


Peterhead
11
3
3
8
4
2


Selkirk
2
1
0
1
4
0


Stirling
4
0
2
7
1
6


Stonehaven
2
5
1
3
0
0


Stornoway
3
4
14
2
1
2


Stranraer
1
0
0
1
1
0


Tain
1
0
1
0
0
0


Wick
2
3
1
0
0
0


Grand Total
275
218
212
149
185
216



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people charged with assault to injury from 1 October 2008 to 31 January 2009 have received a direct measure, broken down by sheriff court.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the number of charges of Assault to Injury, where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure from 1 October 2008 to 31 January 2009.

  The figures include only those direct measures that were affected by the provisions in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  Charges - Assault to Injury1,2,3

  

Procurator Fiscal Office
Charges as Direct Measures
Total Charges Reported


Aberdeen
9
330


Airdrie
2
118


Alloa
0
53


Arbroath
1
77


Ayr
4
188


Banff
1
12


Campbeltown
0
7


Cupar
1
30


Dumbarton
3
159


Dumfries
6
124


Dundee
2
96


Dunfermline
8
129


Duns
0
16


Dunoon
2
7


Edinburgh
41
746


Elgin
17
91


Falkirk
1
42


Forfar
1
44


Fort William
1
14


Glasgow
24
671


Greenock
3
61


Haddington
1
115


Hamilton
11
264


Inverness
9
117


Jedburgh
1
35


Kirkcudbright
4
22


Kirkcaldy
12
138


Kilmarnock
3
242


Linlithgow
19
242


Lanark
0
25


Oban
0
4


Paisley
4
182


Peebles
0
12


Perth
0
20


Peterhead
1
58


Rothesay
0
6


Selkirk
6
63


Stonehaven
0
13


Stranraer
3
53


Stirling
3
89


Stornoway
0
1


Tain
1
2


Wick
2
26


National total
207
4,744



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a procurator fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. Procurator Fiscal jurisdictions match sheriff court jurisdictions.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the legal advice it received when drawing up the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not discuss the nature of any legal advice received, nor indeed whether legal advice has been sought in relation to any matter.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has applied or plans to apply for research funding from the European Commission to undertake an assessment of the prevalence, treatment and best practice in relation to venous embolism and thrombosis.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government Health Directorates has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO does not undertake research directly so has not applied for research funding from the European Commission to undertake an assessment of the prevalence, treatment and best practice in relation to venous embolism and thrombosis.

  The CSO primarily responds to requests for funding research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland and would welcome research proposals into this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review. In addition, Scottish participation in the Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR) means that Scottish researchers have access to a wealth of new research funding opportunities in clinical trials, health technology assessment, public health research (including disease prevention) and health services research.

Health

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stroke patients was admitted to a specialist unit within 24 hours in 2008.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Stroke Care Audit Survey data for 2008 are not yet available. Information provided by the stroke Managed Clinical Network in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde indicates, however, that across the board’s area in 2008, 52% of stroke patients were admitted to a stroke unit within 24 hours. Patients are also reviewed by the stroke team within 24 hours, prior to their transfer to the stroke unit.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s decision to transfer 30 continuing care beds from St Margaret of Scotland Hospice to new facilities at Blawarthill Hospital by 2012, what assurances it has received that these facilities will be available on time and within budget.

Nicola Sturgeon: A preferred bidder for Blawarthill Hospital was appointed in May 2007 to take forward the development of the Blawarthill Hospital site in order to provide:

  60 NHS continuing care beds staffed by the NHS;

  60 care home beds;

  16 very sheltered housing units, and

  eight disabled housing units.

  Negotiations with the bidder continue and, assuming these are concluded, it is expected that new NHS facilities will be available early, in 2012.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-20799 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2009, whether it intends to distinguish between samples taken from patients in acute hospitals, non-acute hospitals and community settings in determining the presence of Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) advise there is no intention to distinguish between samples taken in hospitals, community settings or nursing homes for the national surveillance of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD).

  HPS will carry out validation studies with individual NHS boards to establish where CDAD cases are arising to best focus efforts to reduce the risk of developing the infection.

  Antimicrobial prescribing is the biggest single risk factor for CDAD and in that context it is assumed that all cases are healthcare associated.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its plans to improve the funding for pupils in child poverty who are seeking entry to higher education.

Fiona Hyslop: The consultation paper on higher education (HE) student support, Supporting a Smarter Scotland, was launched by the Scottish Government on 15 December 2008 and will run until 30 April 2009. This consultation paper is seeking the views of stakeholders about our intention to replace the current system of student loans with a fair and affordable system of means tested grants. The focus of the consultation paper is the mainstream support available for those undertaking full-time undergraduate study in HE, whether at college or university. The aim is to issue a final report on the consultation by the end of September 2009. The consultation paper can be accessed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/12126380/0.

  The government’s consultation paper, 16+ Learning Choices: First Steps Activity and Financial Support, which proposes changes to the Education Maintenance Allowance closed on 20 February 2009. Responses from stakeholders are currently being considered and a report on the consultation will be issued by the end of May 2009. The consultation paper can be accessed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/11/20140003/1.

  Both these consultations have as part of their aim the need to improve funding for those from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to study courses of higher education. In addition, The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is responsible for allocation of Scottish Government funding for widening access initiatives. The SFC makes specific grant allocations to universities for widening access initiatives and also funds four regional widening access forums which are responsible for the management and delivery of collaborative widening access initiatives within their regions. Information on the widening access initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Widening Access Regional Forums can be found at www.swarf.ac.uk.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have resulted in fiscal fines being imposed since the implementation of summary justice reforms and what the total value is of these fines.

Frank Mulholland QC: A total of 42,090 offers of fiscal fines were issued from 10 March 2008 to 28 February 2009, and the total value of these was £3,979,775. In the same period, a total of 1,645 offers of combined fiscal fine and compensation offer were issued, with a total fine value of £156,275.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases in the Lothians region have resulted in fiscal fines being imposed since the implementation of summary justice reforms and what the total value is of such fines.

Frank Mulholland QC: A total of 5,284 offers of fiscal fines were issued from 10 March 2008 to 28 February 2009, and the total value of these was £519,975. In the same period, a total of 260 offers of a combined fiscal fine and compensation offers were issued, with a total fine value of £26,400.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the 10 minimum standards outlined in the Safer Betting Shops - Minimum Standards Report , published by the Community trade union in March 2009, and whether it intends to take action to support the standards.

Kenny MacAskill: Acts of violence and abuse against anyone working in a public facing role are unacceptable. The Scottish Government is continuing to support the campaign for the protection of public service workers from violence that has been run for the last few years. The successful work of this campaign has now moved into the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

  The centre is already in discussion with trade unions and employers in the betting trade on how best to tackle the abuse of workers.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking with employers to ensure that their duty of care is upheld in ensuring that provisions are implemented to protect frontline betting shop workers from all forms of abuse and violence.

Kenny MacAskill: Acts of violence and abuse against anyone working in a public facing role are unacceptable.

  The Scottish Government is continuing to support the campaign for the protection of public service workers from violence that has been run for the last few years. The successful work of this campaign has now moved into the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

  The centre is in discussion with trade unions and employers in the betting trade on how best to tackle the abuse of workers. Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will meet with representatives of betting shop owners and employees in the near future to discuss action on the risks facing staff.

  Ultimately, responsibility for protecting workers from harm in the workplace lies with the employer, who should carry out a risk assessment for their workplaces and put in place measures to ensure that risk of harm to their employees is minimised, including recording and reporting of incidents of abuse and assault and their consequences for the victims.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned at the betting industry’s reaction to the Community trade union’s Safer Betting Shop poster campaign, which received significant cross-party support in the Parliament, and, if so, what action it intends to take to ensure that safety of betting shop staff is a priority.

Kenny MacAskill: The campaign for the protection of public service workers from violence, which is continuing to be supported by the Scottish Government and is run by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, has been positively received.

  The Community Trade Union’s Safe Betting Shop poster campaign has not been so well received as bookmakers feel that the campaign is too aggressive.

  The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives is considering a forum to bring appropriate parties together to look at making the workplace safer and healthier and to consider the criminal issues.

Licensing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to implement the recommendations of the Adult Entertainment Working Group.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21756 on 19 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of adequate provision is with regard to provision of facilities for recreational, sporting, cultural and social activities in the context of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

Shona Robison: It is not for the Scottish Government to define what constitutes adequate provision of facilities. It is for local authorities to determine according to local needs and circumstances. Where sports facilities are concerned, sportscotland provide a range of advice and guidance on the planning and development of facilities and I would encourage local authorities and others to make use of this guidance where appropriate.

Mental Health

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the council tax regulations to assist people with a mental health condition.

Shona Robison: There are no plans to change current council tax regulations which already allow entitlement to discounts for people with a severe mental health problem in receipt of qualifying benefits.

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 were dealt with by a direct measure in 2007-08, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) type of offence.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following table shows the total number of charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour with the offer of a fiscal fine in 2007-08.

  The figures include only those direct measures which were affected by the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.

  Charges: Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971

  

Police Force Area
Restriction of Production and Supply of Controlled Drugs
Restriction of Possession of Controlled Drugs
Obstruction or Concealment
Grand Total


Central
1
341
2
344


Dumfries and Galloway
 
298
 
298


Fife
2
146
1
149


Grampian
1
340
1
342


Lothian and Borders
 
533
2
535


Northern
 
463
 
463


Strathclyde
3
4,593
45
4,641


Tayside
1
194
1
196


Grand Total
8
6,908
52
6,968



  Of the eight charges under the heading "Restriction of production and supply of controlled drugs", six involved the growing of a single cannabis plant, one involved the growing of three cannabis plants and one involved supply of a small quantity of cannabis resin to a friend, with no payment involved, in particular circumstances where the sheriff admonished the accused after she was prosecuted in court for failing to pay the fiscal fine.

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile was of those against whom (a) charges were brought and (b) prosecutions were made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the Lothian and Borders police force area in each of the last three years.

Frank Mulholland QC: The following tables show the age profile of the accused for charges which were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the last three years, and charges which were prosecuted - in the Lothian and Borders police force area.

  Table 1: Charges Reported

  

Age of Accused
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


under 16
21
16
15


16-21
1,657
1,393
1,277


22-40
4,298
4,768
4,112


41-60
595
785
762


60+
9
21
9


Grand Total
6,580
6,983
6,175



  Table 2: Charges Prosecuted

  

Age of Accused
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


under 16
0
3
0


16-21
768
602
601


22-40
2,571
2,476
2,158


41-60
338
446
405


60+
6
7
8


Grand Total
3,683
3,534
3,172



  Notes:

  1. The information in these tables has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  A total of 4,898 of drugs charges reported were not proceeded with in court as a separate charge - but the accused was prosecuted for other charges (usually more appropriate drugs charges) in which the substance of the original offence was still prosecuted before the court. Of these charges 1,338 were in 2005-06; 2,070 were in 2006-07, and 1,490 were in 2007-08.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9043 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, what issues were discussed when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met Mr Macdonald on 7 August 2007 and which of its directorates were asked to provide the briefings for this meeting.

Nicola Sturgeon: At our meeting on 7 August 2007, Mr Donald Macdonald and I discussed a range of health service related issues, for which the Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate was asked to provide briefing.

Police

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were (a) made against police officers and (b) upheld in each year since 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: Chief Constables are responsible for operational matters effecting their force, including the investigation of complaints. Information on the number of complaints dealt with by police forces is collected by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/public-safety/Police/local/15403/Statistical/ComplaintsHTML .

  The Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS) was established in April 2007 to review the outcome of complaints if individuals are dissatisfied with the way a police force has dealt with a complaint. In 2007-08, PCCS received 322 enquires from members of the public which led to 38 case handling reviews. In 2008-09, PCCS has so far received 368 enquiries leading to 62 case handling reviews.

Pre-School Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether access to physical activity and physical education facilities and to facilities to promote physical literacy for three and four-year-olds at each nursery school is inspected by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and included in all inspection reports.

Adam Ingram: HMIE look at the experiences children have for physical development indoors and outside on every pre-school inspection, and often focus in particular on monitoring daily energetic activity. Most pre-school inspection reports will include a comment about physical development. This might cover aspects such as hand control or ability in climbing and balancing skills, or children’s understanding of exercise and keeping healthy.

Prison Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of published guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on borderline and antisocial personality disorders, what action the Scottish Prison Service and community justice authorities are taking to implement programmes with offenders to deal with such disorders both in prison and in the community.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  From a clinical perspective, there are very few prisoners in custody with a formal diagnosis of either antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD). SPS helps prisoners address their presenting behaviours rather than rely on or work through a medical diagnosis, however, there are occasions when a confirming diagnosis would be of benefit. In this respect, a number of individuals who may meet a formal diagnosis of ASPD or BPD will be supported by prison based multi-disciplinary mental health teams (MDMHT).

  Offending behaviour associated with these personality disorders is most likely to be addressed through the suite of offending behaviour programmes provided by the SPS. These programmes are designed using a risk, needs and responsivity approach which can meet the needs of prisoners with such disorders.

  Having consulted with criminal justice authorities (CJAs), they advise that the National Strategy for the Management of Offenders designs services around offender groups, including offenders with mental health problems. There is also an expectation that agencies work together to enhance services for offenders in order to achieve stated offender outcomes including "sustained or improved physical and mental well-being".

  Accredited programmes that follow the same principles as those delivered by SPS are available in the community.

Prison Service

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been imprisoned in 2009 and how many were imprisoned in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates how many admissions there were to SPS establishments in each of the years requested. The data is as of 20 March 2009.

  

Year
Admissions


2007
30,668


2008
30,086


2009
6,060

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made in prisons for voluntary participation by prisoners in educational courses and what the nature is of such courses.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service provides a range of educational and employability courses and programmes in all prisons, which are themed around learning for work, life, health and leisure. Many of the courses and programmes lead to formal certification.

  Participation in these opportunities is voluntary and available to all convicted prisoners.

  The primary focus of the educational provision is to address basic skills needs such as literacy and numeracy and also to increase the skills capabilities of prisoners to enhance their employability prospects on release from prison. The teaching and training is delivered through the learning centres, vocational training (VT) units and working environments in each prison.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when each of the regional proposal assessment committees in the 11 regions was informed of the change to the points threshold required for successful applications for Rural Priorities funding in advance of their last round of meetings.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21718 on 23 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities about the maintenance and condition of swimming pools in each local authority area.

Shona Robison: None. It is for the owners and operators of swimming pools to ensure that they have in place a robust maintenance regime to ensure they continue to operate in a safe and usable condition which meets reasonable customer needs.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there should be a swimming pool in every town with a population of more than 10,000.

Shona Robison: It is for local authorities to determine the level of provision of swimming pools according to local needs and circumstances.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to build any regional swimming pools that fit international competition standards in the next three years.

Shona Robison: It is not for the Scottish Government to build swimming pools but, through sportscotland, the government will work with local authorities and Scottish Swimming to ensure that we have in place sufficient swimming pools to meet the needs of our emerging and talented swimmers.

Violence Against Women

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18019 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, on what date it will publish the strategic framework on violence against women.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18019 on 4 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  No specific date around Easter has been set.

Violence Against Women

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to a gendered approach to violence against women.

Alex Neil: Yes. The Scottish Government remains committed to a gendered approach to violence against women.

Violence Against Women

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the short-life working group to develop information on women with no recourse to public funds who have experienced domestic abuse will report.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-5092 on 4 December 2008 All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1204-01.htm .

Violence Against Women

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the short-life working group to develop information on women with no recourse to public funds who have experienced domestic abuse has met.

Alex Neil: The short life working group, set up by the Scottish Government to look at the issue of women with no recourse to public funds, has met twice - on 4 February 2008 and 27 May 2008.

Violence Against Women

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered establishing a hardship fund for abused women with no recourse to public funds.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-1253 on 4 December 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1204-01.htm.

Young Carers

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what progress has been made in developing a model of integrated assessment that ensures that the needs of children of substance-misusing parents are identified at the earliest opportunity and responded to effectively.

Adam Ingram: One of the key actions identified in The Road to Recovery: a New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem was to "Support sharing and embedding of good practice around single and inter-agency assessment of and planning for children". That has been taken forward under the Getting it right for every child programme through issuing the Guide to Getting it right for every child in September 2008 which gives further guidance on a common approach for agencies to assessing children’s risks and needs, including children affected by parental substance misuse, based on shared language and promoting intervention which is appropriate, proportionate and timely.